Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-04-03
HOW GOOD SWIMMERS DO 1T.
Miss Beckwith and Her Brother
Tell of Their Quatic Triumphs.
From the Neto York W,rld.

From the Nelo York WJrld.
Clang! clang! from the bell at the side
OF the ring, and away scamper the gayly
clad tumblers and riders past the high
and mighty master OF ceremonies. Down
t0eY rush to the dark lane that leads to
that strange country under the Amplitude
atre in Madison Square Garden. An ora
tor who could give old Stentor points and
beat him at canter, climbs up on what
is LETT of the wooden stage and announces
the champion swimmers OF the world.
Out they come!-a talr-faced, brown
haired young man, leading fair-faced,
ruddy Checked young woman whose wavy
brown hair ripples down over broad
shoulders. They are Willie and Agnes
Beck With, brother and sister, and in more
than 200 races they have beaten every
body who claimed to be the boss water
traveller. An exhibition OF swimming 10
a new thing in the circus line, and the
thousands in the solid banks of seats eye
the pair closely as they come forward.
Agnes drops her long wrap OF bronze
plush into the hands of an attendant, and
then the thousands gaze adm1ringly on
full and graceful muscular development
such as few daughters OF Eve ever at
tain. Clad in tight-ftting white stOckinet
from neck to foot, hampered only by a
brief tract OF red silk jacket and trunks,
every muscle of the girl has full play. III
it were not tor this airy costume she
would find her work in the water an
thing but the fun she does. Willie IS
trifle shorter and considerably lighter
than his sister. Ee does not weigh over
1876 pounds, but the way he sails through
the water reminds you of big hungry
salmon darling after his breakfast. With
a splash that sends little columns OF
pearly drops heavenward both plunge
into the small lake of steam-heated
Croton that nestles in wooden tank, 6O
feet long, l6 wide and deep. 1t 10 easy
to see by their antics that they would
sooner live in water than on land. To
demonstrate what a luxurious place OF
abode the water really is, Willie puts on
a heavy suit of clothes, lights cigar
and dives in. A wreath OF blue smoke
curling upward now and then shows
what a fine time he is having down be-
low. and after while up comes the dis
carded suit which the little man has
plucked Off in the depths. Then when
every one begins TO wonder whether
Willie has turned fish aud is going to stay
down forever, he hobs up sereneiy, still
putting at his cigar.
Agnes performs one feat that has never
been seen before in this country. While
floating She turns on either side and re-
mains balanced there for minute, or as
long as she chooses, her shapely arms
curled above her head ana her lace wear
ing an expression of perfect content. She
is wonderfully graceful iD the water.
While the band plays a soft, dreamy air,
she waltZes prettily from end 10 end OF
the Enclosure. There is strong spice Of
humor in her makeup. When showing
how easy it is to rescue struggling,
drowning man by grabbing him behind
the ears, she laughs heartily and checks
Willie's mad plunges now and then by
quietly ducking him out OF sight. When
she swims with hands and feet tied,
hardly a woman in the vast house
breathes, so great is the suspense.
The Beckwiths come of swimming
family. Their father, Prof. Beckwith,
mas taught more crowned heads how to
keep above water than you could count
in day. They began to give public eXh-
bitions when they were years old and
have kept it up ever since. The list,
which contains a condensed record OF
Willle's most famous matches, would fill
Just one column and Jhree-quarters, Civ
ing only names, dates, distances and
places. Agnes leaped into fame as "a
swimmer in her 14th year by swimming
from London bridge to Greenwich, five
miles, in hour and minutes. In Sep
TENDER, 1880, she swan 100 hours in one
week, taking all her meals and reading in
the water.
"Does it hurt us to swim so muoh ~
said Willie to an inquiring young man.
mot bit Of 1t. Why, unless we are in
hard training we get heavier at 1t. Ag-
gie was slender slip OF a girl when she
began to swim, and now she is as strong
as strong can be. l never felt better in
Tn h.. I tah t.ll
people that either one OF US is ready and
willing TO swim any man in America
any distance for 81, 900 q side, or any part
of it,V